Craig Daily Press Guides New Believers on Spiritual Growth

Steamboat Springs —“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” The Apostle Paul asked this of disciples in Ephesus, not to test their theology, but to highlight a priority. It was his top concern.

That’s the core question in a new faith column from the Craig Daily Press. The piece, titled “What to do after you receive Christ,” moves past the initial moment of salvation and drills into the mechanics of spiritual growth. It’s a manual for the newly baptized, the recently converted, the folks who just checked the “saved” box and are now wondering what comes next.

The author, writing from a local pulpit perspective, argues that becoming a Christian isn’t just about escaping hell. It’s about identity. You stop being a “lost and sinful worm” and start being a “child of the King.” That’s the theological pivot. It’s not just forgiveness; it’s a new creation.

But the column doesn’t stay in the clouds. It gets practical. It lists the non-negotiables for spiritual survival:

• Drink the milk. You need to read the Bible daily.
• Find a home. Join a church that teaches the Word.
• Get a pastor. You need someone to care for you.
• Pray. Not as a discipline, but as a relationship with a Father.

The author warns against stagnation. If you think you’re still just an old sinner, you’ll struggle to walk in the new life God calls you to. It’s a warning against spiritual amnesia. You’re supposed to feel different because you are different. You’re carrying eternal life in your spirit now.

There’s a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit here. The column insists that being filled with the Spirit isn’t optional. It’s how you grow. It’s the mechanism for bearing fruit. It’s also the engine for witnessing. Jesus sent the Spirit to help, lead, and teach. The goal is simple: share the gospel. Lead others to Christ.

It’s a straightforward, no-frills approach. No complex theology degree required. Just drink, pray, grow, share.

The column assumes the reader is already part of the local Christian community. It references “fellowshipping with other believers” and “being cared for by a good pastor.” It’s written for people who already know what a pastor is. It’s written for Craig, for Parachute, for the folks who attend the churches along US-40 and the side streets.

The tone is urgent but encouraging. It’s not about earning salvation. It’s about living it out. The author notes that fruit isn’t produced by striving. It’s produced by abiding. By giving attention to the relationship. By letting the life of Christ flow through you like sap through a branch.

It’s a reminder that faith isn’t a static event. It’s a dynamic process. And if you’re not moving, you’re not growing.

The column doesn’t mention money. It doesn’t mention property taxes or road maintenance. It doesn’t mention the cost of living in Delta County. It’s purely spiritual. But for the locals reading it, it’s a call to action. A call to check their own spiritual plumbing. To see if they’re drinking the milk or just staring at the empty bottle.

The bottom line? You’re saved. Now grow up.